Patent Application
20090126718
This invention is in the field of solar energy and in particular a new system of arranging the solar collectors and utilizing excess energy to produce electricity.
Solar energy has been utilized for mankind's benefit from the earliest times. In more modern times one common use of solar energy is to heat the water in a water system. Such water systems could be on a commercial scale or for domestic use. An additional use is to produce electricity for immediate use or to charge a battery for later use. Use of solar energy is a source of energy that is natural, pollution free, consistent, reliable and without cost. This invention comes to utilize solar energy for both the above mentioned uses.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments of the invention and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention but not to limit the invention to these descriptions only.
The object of this invention is to utilize in a more efficient way solar energy.
Another object of this invention is to increase the power of the sun's energy by making the sun's light waves pass through a magnifying glass before reaching the solar collectors. The magnifying glass would be placed in such a way so as to focus the sun's radiation on the solar collectors.
Another object of this invention is to increase the power of the sun's energy by having mirrors placed at the far side of the solar collectors from the sun. The mirrors would be placed in such a way so as to focus the sun's radiation on the solar collectors and thereby increase the intensity of heat and increase the surface area of the collectors heated by the sun's heat and radiation.
Another object of this invention is for the solar collectors to be upright and a cylindrical shape.
Another object of this invention is for the solar collectors to be arranged in a circle or a circular type formation.
Another object of this invention is for the solar collectors to move together with the angle of the sun to catch the optimal solar energy throughout the day. This movement could be both regarding the angle of the solar collectors and their direction relative to the sun. A computer program would be used to adjust the angle and direction of the solar panel according to the data base of the program containing the position of the sun relative to the earth at different latitudes, different seasons of the year and times of the day. A motorized mount holding the solar panel could move the panel according to the changes calculated by the computer program.
Another object of this invention is for the magnifying glasses and/or the mirrors to move together with the sun to catch the optimal solar energy throughout the day. This movement could be both regarding the angle of the magnifying glasses and/or mirrors and their direction relative to the sun. A computer program would be used to adjust the angle and direction of the magnifying glasses and/or mirrors according to the data base of the program containing the position of the sun relative to the earth at different latitudes, different seasons of the year and times of the day. A motorized mount holding the magnifying glasses and/or mirrors could move the mount according to the changes calculated by the computer program.
Another object of this invention is to utilize the energy collected to heat water in a water tank.
Another object of this invention is to utilize the energy collected produce electricity in order to charge a rechargeable battery. This electricity could be produced by photovoltaic technology. The change from utilizing the sun's energy to heat water to producing electricity could be controlled by a heat sensitive switch that would give priority to heating water and when a pre-set water temperature is reached the sun's energy would be utilized by charging an electric battery. The switch would perform the reverse procedure when the temperature of the water fell below a pre-set temperature.
Another object of this invention is to have mirrors at the back of the solar collectors to increase surface area of the collectors heated by the sun's heat and radiation.
Another object of this invention is to have mirrors and/or magnifying glasses in the center of the circle of solar collectors to increase the radiated heat from the sun on the solar collectors.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain by way of example only, the principles of the invention:
As will be appreciated the present invention is capable of other and different embodiments than those discussed above and described in more detail below, and its several details are capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the embodiments set forth below are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
The sun 102 radiates heat and light that falls on a flat plate solar collector 104. When the system relies on convection water flow the water tank 106 should be higher than the collector 104. When this is not the case a water pump is required to pump the water on its route through the system. The water heated in the solar collector 104 rises to the top of the collector 104 and out through piping 108 to the top of the tank 106. Cooler water flows from the bottom of the tank 106 through piping 110 to the base of the collector 104 to be heated and the cycle continues. The user of the water takes the supply from the hottest section of the tank 106 namely from the upper section through piping 112.
There are at least two methods of heat transfer from the solar collector tubes 122 to the water being heated. Either the water being heated passes through the tube collectors 122 and the water is heated by the intense heat inside the tubes 122 or a sealed pipe containing a fluid is heated by the heat in the tubes 122 and then a second heat exchange takes place when the sealed pipe passes through the water required to be heated.
Over the whole area of the solar collection panel 120 is a magnifying glass 124 or group of magnifying glasses aimed to concentrate and intensify the heating effect of the sun's radiation. This magnifying glass 124 could be a mirror on all or part of the northern facing side of the collectors 122, thereby also heating the opposite side of the collectors 122 that the sun radiation does not reach directly. Alternatively, a mirror 126 could be on the far side of the magnifying glass 124 on the northern facing side of the collectors 122 so that sun's radiation reflected by the mirror 126 will pass through the magnifying glass 124 before focusing on the collector 122.
The magnifying glass 124 and/or mirror 126 could be separated into magnifying glasses and mirrors for each solar collector tube 122. This would enable more exact focusing of the sun's radiation on each tube 122.
Inside the circle of solar collectors 122 are mirrors 127 and magnifying glasses 128 to catch the sun's radiation on the northern facing side of the southern solar collection tubes. The northern solar collector tubes would have a magnifying glass 129 on their southern facing side.
The references herein to north and south refer to the situation in the northern hemisphere.
The inside hollow 136 of the collection tube 122 could be a partial vacuum to increase the heat absorption and energy transfer processes.
